Улисс

           —No,thanks,professorMacHughsaid,wavingthecigarettecaseaside.Waitamoment.Letmesayonething.ThefinestdisplayoforatoryIeverheardwasaspeechmadebyJohnFTayloratthecollegehistoricalsociety.MrJusticeFitzgibbon,thepresentlordjusticeofappeal,hadspokenandthepaperunderdebatewasanessay(newforthosedays),advocatingtherevivaloftheIrishtongue.

           HeturnedtowardsMylesCrawfordandsaid:

           —YouknowGeraldFitzgibbon.Thenyoucanimaginethestyleofhisdiscourse.

           —HeissittingwithTimHealy,J.J.O’Molloysaid,rumourhasit,ontheTrinitycollegeestatescommission.

           —Heissittingwithasweetthing,MylesCrawfordsaid,inachild’sfrock.Goon.Well?

           —Itwasthespeech,markyou,theprofessorsaid,ofafinishedorator,fullofcourteoushaughtinessandpouringinchasteneddictionIwillnotsaythevialsofhiswrathbutpouringtheproudman’scontumelyuponthenewmovement.Itwasthenanewmovement.Wewereweak,thereforeworthless.

           Heclosedhislongthinlipsaninstantbut,eagertobeon,raisedanoutspannedhandtohisspectaclesand,withtremblingthumbandringfingertouchinglightlytheblackrims,steadiedthemtoanewfocus.

           IMPROMPTU

           InferialtoneheaddressedJ.J.O’Molloy:

           —Taylorhadcomethere,youmustknow,fromasickbed.ThathehadpreparedhisspeechIdonotbelievefortherewasnotevenoneshorthandwriterinthehall.Hisdarkleanfacehadagrowthofshaggybeardroundit.Heworealoosewhitesilkneckclothandaltogetherhelooked(thoughhewasnot)adyingman.